∞∞∞
It was the bloody cove from last night, George was certain. She recognised his voice. Some vicar’s son he was.
She wriggled to get rid of a piece of hay poking through the blanket he’d brought her and finished off her porridge. She looked down at her foot, swollen to almost twice its size and sighed. Things could be a bloody sight worse. She could be nursing the damage under a hedgerow. At least here she was warm and dry with a full belly.
She lay back and pillowed her head against a pile of hay, eying the ugly looking cur curled up near the door.Nelson, he’d called it. She didn’t know much about British history, but everyone knew about the Admiral who’d lost his arm. The dog only had three legs, so at least her rescuer had a sense of humour. She just hoped the dog didn’t end up being pickled in a barrel like his namesake.
Experimentally, she tried moving her foot, gasping as pain shot up her leg. The vicar’s son was right, she wouldn’t be doing any manual labour for a while. Fighting back sudden tears, she closed her eyes. Would his charity extend to the length of her recovery? Should she offer to pay for her food and shelter? Somehow she didn’t think he’d want to take her money any more than she wanted to part with it. The coins strapped to her chest were all that stood between her and destitution.
And even if she was allowed to stay for the moment, as soon as her ankle was back to normal, she’d need to look for work. It was all very well to declare that she always paid her debts, but she couldn’t live on bloody fresh air while she was doing it. Groaning, she closed her eyes and thought back to the first time she’d seen her rescuer, head arched backwards in the throes of ecstasy. She didn’t even know his name. He was handsome though; she’d give him that. She could understand why the unknown woman had succumbed to his charms.
Last night, she hadn’t been able to see the colour of his eyes, but today she realised they were a silver grey and held a disconcerting directness. His hair was a riot of waves most women would give their right arm for, though it was clearly only given the most cursory attention. But the colour would stand him apart in even the largest of crowds. He was tall and slender, but moonlight had revealed a hard muscular chest with a smattering of hair. Unexpectedly, she felt another tickling sensation in the pit of her stomach.
Bloody hell, that wouldn’t do. She dared not show any attraction towards him. She had no idea what he’d do if he discovered she was a girl. Despite the pain in her ankle, she determinedly turned over, forcing down the sudden totty-headed notion that mayhap she should find out.
∞∞∞
‘So you think two labourers will be sufficient to help me with the external work?’ Anthony pressed his lips together in concentration as he studied the drawing Nicholas had unearthed showing the original plans of the house.
‘Aye, if they know their trade.’ Malcolm, the Duke’s unorthodox valet and closest friend pointed to the shaded areas across the roof. ‘This is where the slates have slipped, so your first job will be to make sure the roof is watertight before winter.’
‘I’ll organise to have the slates delivered in the next two weeks,’ Nicholas added, holding up his hand when Anthony began to protest. ‘Humour me,’ was all he said.
At length, Anthony sighed and nodded. ‘I’ll go down to the Red Lion this evening and ask if anyone is looking for work.’
‘You’ll likely to be able to take your pick,’ Malcolm acknowledged. ‘as long as you can guarantee to get most of the repairs finished before the harvest.’
‘There’s no time to lose,’ Anthony agreed. ‘My intention had been to travel at the end of the month, but I’m thinking now two weeks.’
Nicholas nodded. ‘Tell me what else you need.’ At Anthony’s obdurate look, he added with a pained sigh, ‘Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you pay me back.’
Chapter Five
It was another two days before George learned her rescuer’s name, though it wasn’t he who told her. She was practising putting weight onto her foot when she heard a loud voice declare that if someone called Percy hadn’t got himself a deuced backbone by now, he was unlikely to acquire one anytime in the near future. Frowning, she peeked through the stable door and saw a large man dressed in a black cassock. Aside from his robe, George didn’t think he looked much like a vicar.
‘Right then, where’s this deuced young hemp Anthony brought home with him?’
Realising he was talking about her, George backed away from the door, heart hammering. To her, the fact that he was a clergyman meant nothing. She’d known plenty of God’s so-called representatives on Earth who’d committed far greater sins than the population they’d supposedly been called to guide.
The stable door opened, and the portly figure of Blackmore’s vicar stepped forward, blocking out most of the light. Nelson gave a small growl but didn’t move from his bed in the corner – that was until a small whirlwind of fur dashed through the Reverend’s legs and made a beeline directly for the mongrel. She watched as Nelson held his ground for all of five seconds, then did what most males would do when faced with a determined female – and it clearly was a very determined female - he rolled on his back and showed his belly.
‘What’s your name, lad?’ The Reverend’s tone was bluff but not unkind.
‘George ... Sir.’
‘No need toSirme lad, Reverend’ll do nicely. So, Anthony tells me you’ll be working for him once your ankle’s mended.’
For a few seconds, George simply stared at the clergyman with her mouth open. Her immediate thought,His name’s Anthonywas closely followed by a relief so profound, she felt suddenly as light as air.Then she nodded so hard she feared her head might fall off. ‘That’s right, Sir… Reverend,’ she stuttered. ‘I’ll do my best to repay him for his kindness.’
‘I’ve no doubt you’ll earn your keep, young man,’ the Reverend declared. ‘I might as well tell you that Bovey Manor’s not for the fainthearted.’
Bovey Manor?
‘Still, you look like you’re no stranger to hard work, lad. Keep your head down, and do as you’re told, and I’m certain you and Anthony will deal perfectly well together.’
He turned towards the two dogs who were now tussling in the hay. ‘Tare an’ hounds, Flossy, you’re nothing but a deuced lightskirt. If you must pick a fellow to frolic with, at least choose one that don’t look like he’s been chewing a wasp.’ And with that, he patted his side and went back down the path yelling, ‘Seth! I could have walked to deuced Torquay in the time it’s taken you to harness Delilah to the cart.’ Flossy gave Nelson a last apologetic lick and scampered after her master.
George sagged against the bales of last year’s hay lining the stable wall and slid slowly down to the floor. The initial overwhelming relief she’d felt was already giving way to trepidation. Where the bloody hell was Bovey Manor? It could be the other side of the bleeding country. But then, did it matter? She’d only chosen Plymouth because she didn’t have enough coin to go any further. If she went withAnthony, she’d be putting herself at the mercy of a man she barely knew - but that said, the Grimms would likely never find her…
